Mistakes made, lessons learnt, and advice for actors, strugglers….
Warning: This post is about to meander in any which direction it desires as thoughts flow in and out. Coherence be damned.
“Life is too short, and nobody is perfect enough to make all the mistakes in their lifetime, so sometimes you just have to settle in learning from others’ errors.” – some dude
I’ve been meaning to write for a while about so many things, but when I sit down it all just disappears like a chalkboard wiped clean. Ever have that brilliant idea where you can’t wait to tell someone, but just as you see them, you forget and curse yourself for not having written it down? Kinda like that.
No brilliant ideas here though. Just a lot of nonsense talk, and hopefully some advice and tips for actors (and other film folk), struggling, established, or on the way to getting there. No, I’m no authority on acting myself, but the way I see it, the past 4 years of my acting career has consisted of making decisions, some good, many bad, and the least I can do for myself and others trying to get in this line of work is educate and reinforce. Apologies in advance if this comes across as “gyaan baanto”…
Let’s get one thing straight. This is show “business”. Coupled with passion, yes, but to get to the upper echelons of work, you can have all the passion and talent and dedication and hard work, but unless you treat it as a business, and yourself as a Unique Selling Product (USP), chances are you won’t get far. And for any newcomer, experimenting with his/her looks is crucial in the beginning stages. It’s the only way to figure out your type. Yes, nobody wants to get “typecasted”, but knowing your type and getting typecasted are slightly different. Figuring out your type is the image one would have outside of doing films. Getting typecasted is something that happens “in” films. The best of the best get typecast, and it’s perfectly normal. Sure, we’d all like to be versatile enough to pull off a comedy, action, romance, thriller, horror etc, but the unfortunate truth is the room for experimentation opens up after establishing oneself and depends on the risks one is willing to take. Ever wonder why Matt Damon always appears as the preppy boy with a collared shirt and sweater, or Johnny Depp shows up looking grungy at premieres with his glasses, hat, and weird outfits? Why is ‘cute’ associated with Meg Ryan and why do you never see her in a horror flick? Why does John Abraham show up in tight t-shirts that show off his biceps? Why did his hair style and stubble fad catch on with the youth? Two words: Image branding. The aforementioned examples played to their strengths and figured out a look. They “showed” themselves in the proper light and got the “business”. Just some things to ponder.
p.s. my point on looks shouldn’t be mistaken as looking drop dead gorgeous or looking like the next Brad Pitt (which you never want to do anyway. Would you rather be the first you, or the second someone else?). It’s about acknowledging your strengths, and putting them forward. Danny DeVito and John Goodman may be portly but they’re true examples of how to embrace one’s true selves. Most actors have an age range, which is usually 5 years plus and 5 years minus their current age. It’s advisable not to look older than you are, but instead your actual age. Time will age you anyway, why do you want to age faster? Living healthy definitely comes into play here, and I could go on and on about health and fitness tips, but I’m afraid I’ll get carried away. Actors: if you smoke, try to quit. Two cigarettes a day can age you by 2 days or more, and make you look tired on camera.
Auditions can be nerve-wrecking and can really bowl some googlies to your confidence. Here you are, in a room filled with so many people you feel like you’re on the evening local to Borivili and all you can smell past the countless undeodorized armpits is the fear emanating from within you. Since majority of the time, auditions have an appointment time, what I like to do if at all possible is arrive 30-45mins ahead of time instead of the standard “15mins early” routine, depending on the audition. Chances are there might be a table outside the audition area with a copy of the audition script (aka sides) for everyone to take and look at before going into the room. If this is the case, I take a copy of the sides and leave the building, or find a quiet space in the building to myself to look over the lines. This way, I have more time to prepare than most of the other people at the audition and I don’t get sidetracked by other people learning their lines, or making casual chit-chat. If an audition doesn’t go too well and you know right away what you did wrong, write it down! You’d be surprised to look back at the list for your next audition and know what kind of mistakes you’ve made in the past, so as not to repeat them again. Plus it’s a good memento to have years down the line.
Respect EVERYONE. Today’s assistant sitting outside the audition room signing in actors could be tomorrow’s casting director (CD) or filmmaker. And people tend to remember faces in this business. Showing them just as much importance and respect as the CD or the director themselves can pay off in the long run. Doesn’t hurt to smile and shake hands with them just like you would inside the room. Most others wouldn’t give a shit who they are. Here’s a chance at making an impression with the production staff before even giving your audition. Make the most of it. Remember, more than being a good actor, filmmakers also want the peace of mind that they can spend 2-3 months on location or on set with you, so personality is of utmost importance. Why would they want a brilliant actor whose personality is about as interesting as that of a toad’s?
If it’s a major audition, your nerves will be working overtime. Prepare yourself ahead of time by researching everything you can about the project. Find out what the film is, who the filmmakers are, research them and find out their previous works. Sometimes the atmosphere inside the room could take a casual turn and you could be given background about the people involved. If you know it ahead of time, that’s another chance to make yourself stand out from the crowd. And, this next tip might sound stupid, but it helps. If your time/schedule allows, plan something nice for yourself after the audition. Have lunch/dinner/drinks with a friend, go to a movie, anything you like to do but don’t get to do too often. It gives you another reason to look forward to the audition and if it goes well, consider this your reward. Even if it doesn’t go as well as you expected, at least this will help flush it out of your system instead of brooding over it like most actors tend to do (a very easy way to self-destruct).
For all artists in general…
Artists (actors, writers, filmmakers, musicians etc) are probably the most insecure people in the world (stars are THE most). When we see peers getting better work, bigger paychecks, and more recognition, it stings like hell. It’s human nature. Jealousy unfortunately leads to depression, which is about as much fun as a Pauly Shore movie in slow motion. If this has never happened with you, you’re either in denial or haven’t been in the industry long enough. There are two ways to deal with it: either you wallow in self pity, or you become happy for those people. Try the latter next time. If you can, compliment them without sucking up, and be honest with them and yourself. If you can’t do this, then don’t say anything at all. Then realize you can either hate that person for earning their success, or love them for giving you motivation to get to where they are. It takes a strong person to admit to their shortcomings, and if you don’t have the strength in the early stages, you probably won’t have any in the later ones. Also, thinking about your career in terms of a journey rather than a destination will do wonders for you. Many people tend to think about an end result and get depressed that they’re not there after spending a few years at it. As long as you continue finding and making work for yourself, that in itself should be a satisfying feeling because you got into it for the passion that comes with it, not the end result. Not forgetting or letting go of that initial passion is essential.
Things I’ve mentioned here include observations I’ve made over the past few years, things I’ve learnt in workshops, by talking to others about mistakes they’ve made and advice they’ve given, or by trial and error. The point isn’t at all to come across as an authority on anything, so forgive me if I did. If it works for you, great. If not, I hope you learn from your own mistakes.
I really don’t know how to end this post… oh wait, I do. Mithunda, mithunda, mithundaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….
Tags: actors, advice, artists, strugglers
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Lovely piece, Striker. Some of your advice applies to many situations. I really like the idea of planning something fun for after a casting call, so that you look forward to it no matter what the outcome.
Very well written! Enjoyed reading it:-)
yeahhhhhh!!! awesome article Striker..hope many are reading this and taking a print out…this is some good knowledge..though most is common sense..but the effect bringing that common into the sense is immense and this article does it. thanks and please post more
Playing more than your natural age. Two actors pop up in my mind when I read that sentence..
1. Legendary Thamizh comedian/character artiste – V.K.Ramasamy who has not acted as a young man even as he entered the film world at a rather young age.
2. Anupam Kher – Needless to say – the most lovable old father right from the first film…
That side note out of the way – it is an awesome post as ‘you’sual from your Dil Se…
Superb post.. I guess this is the kind of post that KARTHIK has been trying to write for years now, though rather unsuccesfully…But this was one was a belter.
I may not agree to the ideas expressed in here with absolute conviction, but I loved the crevice u chose to say wotever u felt like saying..
thanx for sharing.
Thanks for sharing all this bhai.
loved it ..thanks a ton
good article, agreed with everything. taking notes…..
Gr8 article :
the ending couldn’t be better……….
I luv him and hav promised my self to shake his hand the day he lands up on the set of any of the projcts that involves me
The bst point u mentioned is respecting everybody because u never know who lands up where ……and in this industry being pleasant is the bramhaastra u can hav in ur arsenal , while it might not get u roles but it surely will go a long way
Agree with everything you’ve written.
Being nice is the set up, the pay off will follow!
It’s important to realise that you’ll always be learning something new everyday, so keep your eyes and years open.
And remember, every dog has his day. I couldn’t resist the cliche
That was really good…I’m not the biggest fan of your writings but this one just turned me over…completely…
The best thing about it is that, like a good movie, it is uncomplicated, simple and has a universal theme…
I’m an aspiring chef and this works just as well for me…
Thanks.
glad you all enjoyed the read.
but thanks for acknowledging that everything i’ve said truly is universal. i hope to eat at your restaurant some day, but on the condition that you must serve all the pseudonyms you’ve used on PFC thus far.
evelyn, it really helps with the stress of auditions. try it next time
OM, i have plenty more tips.. i’ll share them from time to time.. and yes, like you and kanda poha said, these things are very universal.. doesn’t just apply to actors.
jaiganesh, those are classic examples of playing to your strengths like i mentioned. anupam sir even at a young age had a much older look, so he put that forward and got his first reward in saaransh. and what a brilliant performance it was.
sreehari, would love to hear your discords out of curiosity. please share.
nikhil, consider this our handshake for now. let’s hope that day comes when we both work together.
arun, good cliche! needed that
kanda poha, even i’m not the biggest fan of my writings, so we have something in common
Upfront, encouraging & true!! :-)
Good post, Striker. The point about journey and not a destination is important for anyone starting out in any career. The beginning stages are going to be hard – you won’t be as good as you want to be. You just have to keep working and believe in yourself.
lovely piece as someone who see myself being a struggling actor very soon i reallyl ike it
as a wannabe actor i have a few questions
1-how do you get on the audition circuit
2-is a portfolio a must ?
vivek, where are you based? can give you answers accordingly..
Very good sir ji… very touchy… dil cheer diya… it is the story of every struggler. I have also tried my luck in film line but could’nt get the chance, so right now doing some thing else to live but the passion is still there and is increasing day by day. I will come back agian one day to fight after i’ll get some security in my present profession…. best of luck to every struggler.. keep going because as you rightly said what more important is journey…
striker im based in bombay
vivek, getting on the audition circuit in any market takes some time, patience, and research. look up every theatre group in bombay, starting with prithvi in juhu: http://www.prithvitheatre.org/
attend shows, talk to the actors and directors there after the show, look on their bulletin boards for upcoming auditions, kick ass at some of those auditions and get roles in theatre. the amount of networking you’ll do in theatre, especially in bombay, will be monumental. everyone in one way or another knows people in the film industry.. not to mention a lot of filmmakers continually come to prithvi to watch shows. sudhir mishra loves coming to prithvi among many others, and so do a lot of filmmakers’ casting assistants.
there is also expresstalent.com – a company that supposedly casts supporting roles and sends people out on auditions. PLEASE DON’T TAKE MY WORD ON THIS WEBSITE. i was just told about it by someone. take a look at it yourself and verify its validity before you pay the fees involved.
look thru yahoogroups for casting groups in bombay. also check out baiscopeent.com and attend their film events, where filmmakers continually show up. ask them about how you can find out about auditions for secondary roles (understand that nobody will be offered a lead starting out) and possibly get a casting assistant’s number so you can keep in touch with them regarding auditions.
getting to your question about portfolio, yes, at some point you will need one.. if you have the money, definitely no harm in investing in it.. but be reasonable and don’t spend a ludicrous amount and WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS. again, research your photographers. once you get your portfolio done, find out names of ad agencies and drop off your pics with them for ad films. explore every route possible.
in the end, there’s no short way to do it all. a lot of legwork and patience is involved, and all i can say is the sooner you start, the better. good luck to you in your endeavours.
akash, all i can say don’t let that “some day” be when life passes you by and you start regretting not giving it a shot.
“the passion is still there and is increasing day by day.”
loha garam hai, MAAR DO HATHAUDA!!